Improvement in men s hats



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

THOMAS W. ADAMS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES H. SLIOER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MENS HATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,043, dated December 24, 1861.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. ADAMS, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hats, dac.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 5 represents a section.

The nature of my improvement in the manufacture of hats consists in giving such an excess in the length of a reed, wire, or other non-extensible flexible article over that of the outer edge of the brim of the hat, so formed of an extensible material that when said reed is inserted and forced in a case on said outer edge it shall give not only firmness to the brim, but also a rising curvature thereto of any desirable configuration.

By virtue of this invention or discovery of extra length of reed confined in the fabric of the hatI am enabled to make them of the lightest material that shall retain their shape at an inconsiderable cost. Those hats also admit of being folded up in a small space by simply twisting the reed in the brim into the shape of an 8, making them peculiarly portable Without damage to the shape.

In the course of continuous experiment, occupying much time and attention, I have discovered and applied successfully the principle that each portion of the arch forming the edge of the brim has its chord formed of the breadth of the brim of the hat. Furthermore, I have found that by employing a band 0, sewed to the lower edge of the body and inner edge of the brim, in conjunction with my reed,- I prevent stretching theV body and throwing the hat out of shape.

As a simple means of joining the reed ends in the reed-case I have employed a short tube or sleeve, which allows the swiveling of the cane reed in folding the hat, and it also prevents injury to the fabric composing it in the removal or return of the reed in washing or doing up the hat.

My improvement is applicable to any shape of hat or cap in which a continuous spring or flexible reed can be inserted.

To enable others to make hats or caps on my improved principle, the following general directions will suffice. Necessarily there Will be slight changes in different patterns forming thus a case.

that will suggest themselves to an intelligent operative.

The hat-brim b is cut on an oval-block pattern -board out of any woven or felted material, the former being preferable, as it is cheap and allows the drawing or tension of the reed. The body d is cut arched or rising over the ears, having its edges parallel, or nearly so, as shown at a a in Fig. 2. The tip or crown@ is cut oval or round, as desirable.

A modification is shown in Fig. 4 called a bag-hat, in which fullness is given the body d. This form makes it requisite to cut it in sections.

The crown is sewed to the body, the headband 0 having been sewed or basted thereto. Then the lower edge thereof is joined to the inner' edge of the brim. The out-er edge of the brim may either have the reed -case formed by turning over the edge of the material or itmaybe formed of wide binding, The hat is now ready for the insertion of the spring-reed h 71 or its substitute into the reed-case. A small metal tube or ferrule g is confined half its length on the end of the reed, the other end of the reed being forced and strained in the remaining half of said ferrule, as shown at e e, such an extra length having been given the reed as to effect the stretching the width of the brim and giving any desirable configuration thereto.

Having described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the construction of mens hats when the brims are of iieXible or yielding material, is-

1. Giving the front and side curves to the brim by means of a frame of cane, metal, or other material, confined within or attached to the brim at or near its circumference, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a hat-brim constructed as claimed in the preceding clause.

3. The head-band o, for the purpose of preserving the symmetry of the body of the hat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS W. ADAMS.

'Witnessesz JOHN F. CLARK, C. H. SLIOER. 

